Conservation Scientists and Foresters

Summary

What Conservation Scientists and Foresters Do About this section

Conservation scientists and foresters study forest and soil quality.

Conservation scientists and foresters manage the land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources.

Duties

Conservation scientists and foresters typically do the following:

• Oversee conservation and forestry activities to ensure compliance with government regulations and protection of habitats
• Negotiate terms and conditions for contracts related to forest harvesting or land use
• Establish plans for managing forest lands and resources
• Choose and prepare sites for new trees, using controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear land
• Monitor forest-cleared lands and forest regeneration
• Direct and participate in forest fire suppression
• Work with private landowners, governments, farmers, and others to remove timber or improve land with minimal environmental damage

Conservation scientists and foresters evaluate data on forest and soil quality, assessing damage to trees and forest lands caused by fires and logging activities. In addition, they lead activities such as suppressing fires and planting seedlings. Fire-suppression activities include measuring the speed at which fires spread and the success of planned suppression.

Conservation scientists and foresters use a variety of tools and equipment. For example, they use clinometers to measure tree height, diameter tapes to measure tree circumference, and increment borers and bark gauges to measure tree growth for calculating timber volume and estimating growth rates. They also may use drones, aerial photographs, satellite images, and Geographic Information System (GIS) data to map large forest or range areas.

Conservation scientists manage, improve, and protect natural resources. They work with private landowners and federal, state, and local governments to find ways to use and improve the land while safeguarding the environment. They also advise farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers on ways to improve land while safeguarding the environment.

The following are examples of types of conservation scientists:

Conservation land managers work for land trusts or other conservation organizations to protect the wildlife habitats, biodiversity, scenic value, and other specific attributes of preserves and conservation lands.

Range managers, also called range conservationists, protect grazing lands to maximize their use without harming the environment. Rangelands contain many natural resources and cover millions of acres in the United States. Range managers may catalog animals, plants, and soils; develop resource management plans; help to restore ecosystems; or help oversee a ranch. They also maintain soil stability and vegetation for wildlife habitats, outdoor recreation, and other uses. Like foresters, range managers work to prevent and reduce wildfires and invasive species.

Soil and water conservationists give technical help in managing concerns related to soil and water. They develop programs to help landowners make their land productive without causing damage. They also help landowners and governments by advising on water quality, preserving water supplies, and handling erosion.

Foresters’ responsibilities vary by employer. Their duties may include creating plans to regenerate forested lands, monitoring the progress of reforested lands, and supervising tree harvests. They also design plans to keep forests free from disease, harmful insects, and damaging wildfires. Foresters may direct the work of forest and conservation workers and technicians.

The following are examples of types of foresters:

Procurement foresters contact, negotiate with, and buy timber from local forest owners. Procurement typically requires taking inventory on the type, amount, and location of a property’s standing timber. Procurement foresters then appraise the timber’s worth, negotiate its purchase, and draw up a contract for purchase and removal. After the contract is in place, these foresters usually subcontract with loggers or pulpwood cutters to fell trees and to help lay out roads for removing the timber.

Urban foresters live and work in cities and manage the trees. These workers focus on issues related to urban wellbeing, including air quality, shade, and storm water runoff.

Conservation education foresters train teachers and students about issues facing forest lands.

Work Environment About this section

Conservation scientists and foresters typically work in offices, in laboratories, and outdoors, sometimes in remote locations performing fieldwork.

Conservation scientists held about 25,900 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of conservation scientists were as follows:

Foresters held about 15,400 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of foresters were as follows:

Conservation scientists and foresters typically work in offices, in laboratories, and outdoors, sometimes traveling to remote locations. When visiting or working near logging operations or wood yards, they wear a hardhat and other protective gear to guard against injury. They also wear protective gear for activities related to fire suppression, which may include prevention or emergency response. Insect bites, poisonous plants, and other natural hazards also present some risk.

The work can be physically demanding. Some conservation scientists and foresters work outdoors in all types of weather. They may need to walk long distances through dense trees or plant growth.

Work Schedules

Most conservation scientists and foresters work full time, and schedules may vary to include weekends. Some work more than 40 hours per week, such as when traveling to remote locations.

How to Become a Conservation Scientist or Forester About this section

Conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor’s degree in forestry or a related field.

Conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related field.

Education

To enter their occupation, conservation scientists and foresters typically need a bachelor's degree in forestry, natural resources, or a related subject, such as agriculture or biology.

Bachelor’s degree programs in forestry and related fields typically include courses in biology, ecology, and forest measurement. Conservation scientists and foresters also typically have a background in Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, remote sensing, and other forms of computer modeling.

The Society of American Foresters accredits academic programs in forestry, urban forestry, and natural resources and ecosystem management.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Several states may require some type of credentialing process for conservation scientists and foresters. In some of these states, conservation scientists and foresters must be licensed; check with your state licensing board for more information.

Some conservation scientists and foresters earn optional certification related to their area of work. For example, the Society of American Foresters (SAF) offers forester certification to candidates who have at least a bachelor’s degree from a SAF-accredited or equivalent forestry program, professional experience, and passed an exam.

The Society for Range Management offers certification in rangeland management or as a range management consultant to candidates who have a bachelor's degree in range management of a related field, related work experience, and passed an exam.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Conservation scientists and foresters must be able to evaluate results from field tests and experiments to determine potential impacts on soil, forest lands, and the spread of fires.

Communication skills. Conservation scientists and foresters must convey information to firefighters, forest and conservation workers, landowners, and, sometimes, the public.

Critical-thinking skills. Conservation scientists and foresters use reasoning to reach conclusions and to determine improvements for forest conditions.

Management skills. Conservation scientists and foresters must be able to lead the forest and conservation workers and technicians they supervise.

Physical stamina. Conservation scientists and foresters may walk long distances in challenging terrain, such as steep or wooded areas, and may work in all kinds of weather conditions.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for conservation scientists was $67,950 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $107,720.

The median annual wage for foresters was $70,660 in May 2024. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $49,240, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $103,220.

In May 2024, the median annual wages for conservation scientists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

In May 2024, the median annual wages for foresters in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most conservation scientists and foresters work full time, and schedules may vary to include weekends. Some work more than 40 hours per week, such as when traveling to remote locations.

Job Outlook About this section

Overall employment of conservation scientists and foresters is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

About 3,900 openings for conservation scientists and foresters are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Projected employment of conservation scientists and foresters varies by occupation (see table).

Heightened public interest in issues involving the environment, such as protecting wildlife habitats and preserving water supplies, will create demand for conservation scientists.

Changing weather conditions and the development of unused land have contributed to a rise in wildfires. Preventing and suppressing these fires have become the primary concerns for managing forests and rangelands. In addition, with the increasing numbers of forest fires and of people who live on or near forest lands, foresters and conservation scientists will be needed to mitigate growing humanitarian and environmental impacts of forest fires.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below goes to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Use the dropdown boxes to select an occupation.

• Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Profiles

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about conservation scientists and foresters, including schools offering education in forestry, visit

Society of American Foresters (SAF)

For information about careers in forestry, particularly conservation forestry and land management, visit

Forest Stewards Guild

Society for Range Management (SRM)

U.S. Forest Service

CareerOneStop

For career videos on conservation scientists and foresters, visit

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